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Supporters seek $25 million to renew Rural Access Infrastructure Fund for township culvert and small-structure repairs
Summary
Senate Bill 95 would renew the Rural Access Infrastructure Fund with $25 million over three years to help counties and townships replace large culverts and small structures on township and secondary roads.
Representatives and local officials urged renewal of the Rural Access Infrastructure Fund (RAIF) in Senate Bill 95, a proposal to appropriate $25,000,000 over three years to help counties and townships replace aging large culverts and small structures on township and county secondary roads.
Sponsor Representative Marty Overweg (filling in) and multiple proponents, including the South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships and local township clerks, described the fund's prior rounds and argued RAIF has enabled otherwise unaffordable structure replacements on township roads. Testimony citing inventories developed with the Department of Transportation identified approximately 9,298 large culverts and 4,496 small bridges on maintained township and county secondary roads; proponents said a subset are in critical or poor condition and require replacement.
Proponents described RAIF as an 80/20 cost‑share (80% RAIF / 20% township) and said local matches often come from township funds or local sources; proponents provided county utilization numbers showing substantial recent use. They said the program encourages county‑township collaboration and cited safety concerns where failing structures impaired farm equipment access and drainage.
Duncan Koch of the Bureau of Finance and Management urged the committee to consider that the state has provided $31 million for similar purposes over the last four years and that other funding mechanisms exist (DOT grant programs, local wheel tax authority, license plate fee transfers). Proponents said they had discussed possible DOT contributions but did not secure DOT funding for this renewal.
Committee questions focused on inventory progress, cost share mechanics and whether other funding could cover needs; proponents said inventories have improved and RAIF remains necessary for townships that lack other funding sources. The committee deferred action for further consideration during budget deliberations.
